May182010
5 Dollar Preps – You CAN Afford to Prepare
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PDFGuest Post by Lucas: aspiring survivalist/prepper, Eagle Scout, and blogger on his site SurvivalCache where he writes survival gear reviews, tips, and ideas.
“I can’t afford to” is definitely the number one excuse people use for not prepping. They believe this because they read about someone who has a $20,000 dollar gun collection and a basement filled with a 10 year supply of freeze dried food. That is just as unrealistic as saying that you want to buy your first house, so you attempt to get a multi-million dollar mansion. It’s just not going to happen.
image by VirtualErn
By following the Survival Food Pyramid and spending just a few dollars a week on preps you will be surprised how quickly your stockpile will grow. Here is an entire list of food and gear you can get for just $5:
Food
- Five gallons of purified water
- 4 pounds of Sugar
- 5 pounds of Flour
- 1.5 quarts of cooking oil
- Two cases of bottled water
- 4 cans of fruit
- 5 pounds of rice
- 5 Pounds of Spaghetti
- 4 Cans of Potatoes
- 4 Cans of Vegetables
- 4 Cans of Beans
- 2 bottles of garlic powder or other spices
- A case of Ramen noodles
- Five packages of instant potatoes
- 4 Cans of Soup
- 2 12 ounce cans of chicken or tuna
- Two 12.5 ounce cans of Salmon
- 5 pounds of Oatmeal
- 5 packages of corn bread mix
- 3 Pounds of dry beans
- 2 Jars Peanut Butter
- 2 boxes of yeast
- 8-10 pounds of Iodized salt
- A can of coffee
- 10 Boxes of generic brand Mac&Cheese
Non-Food Items
- A manual can opener
- Two bottles of camp stove fuel
- 100 rounds of .22lr ammo
- 25 rounds of 12 ga birdshot or small game loads
- 20 rounds of Monarch 7.62×39 ammo
- a spool of 12lb test monofilament fishing line
- 2 packages of hooks and some sinkers or corks
- 3 Bic Lighters or two big boxes of matches
- A package of tea candles
- 50 ft of para cord
- A roll of duct tape
- A box of nails or other fasteners
- A flashlight
- 2 D-batteries, 4 AA or AAA batteries or 2 9v batteries
- A toothbrush and tooth paste
- A bag of disposable razors
- 8 bars of ivory soap (it floats)
- A box or tampons or bag of pads for the ladies
- 2 gallons of bleach
- Needles and thread
OTC Medications
- 2 bottles 1000 count 500 mg generic Tylenol (acetometaphin)
- 2 bottles 500 count 200 mg generic advil (ibuprofen)
- 2 boxes 24 cound 25 mg generic Benadryl (diphenhydramine HCI)–also available at walgreens under “sleep aids.”
- 4 bottles 500 count 325 mg aspirin
- 2 boxes of generic sudafed
- 4 bottles of alcohol
- a box of bandages (4×4)
What Else?
If you get just one of these things each time you go to the grocery you will be well on your way to preparedness. What other $5 Dollar Preps can you think of?
If you are looking for some some gear ideas, tips, or advice you can check out SurvivalCache – The Gear Site for Survivalists or follow on Twitter
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(24) Readers Comments
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Space-Saving and Effective Sub-Irrigated Planters (SIPS)
Mosquitos are definitely an issue with this type of design. There are
Space-Saving and Effective Sub-Irrigated Planters (SIPS)
mine has a watering tube running up the inside wall of the pot, which
Space-Saving and Effective Sub-Irrigated Planters (SIPS)
How do you control for mosquitos breeding in the stagnant water at the
elt2jv
Cheap clothes and/or shoes at garage sales or the Goodwill. Cheap shoes. Socks. Work gloves. Canning supplies (lids, bands, maybe jars if you can find them that cheap.) Baby food. Baby diapers, wipes, powder, etc.
Heck, we picked up a bicycle for two dollars at a garage sale and it just needs a little oil on the chain and grease on the bearings.
You can pick up bicycle supplies, even some auto supplies.
Prepping (to me) means the stores are either gone or so expensive due to hyperinflation that they might as well be closed. what do you need everyday? What can you imagine being a problem if you can't find it? What can you make?
rightwingmom
1. 4 -5 Catholic candles ~ Remove the label. The candle burns approx. 10 hours per inch of wax. (Don't forget the fireplace matches OR lighter wand to reach the wick!)
2. Hydrogen Peroxide ~ I buy mine at CVS or Walgreens when they're 3 / $1. There are multiple uses for hydrogen peroxide. It's not just for boo boo's anymore.
3. Walgreen's recent sale ~ 3 tote bags for $1 (Iimit 6) Those durable bags will come in handy if I'm bartering at a flea market or swap shop environment.
TheSurvivalMom
All great suggestions. Thanks!
Dustin
Plastic sheeting
Utility knife / box cutter
Cotton clothesline
Jutte twine
Bag of steel wool pads
Pack of green scouring pads
Deck of cards + box of crayons + coloring book
Box of gallon zip locs
Notes:
Hit up the dollar store
Keep an eye on expiration dates for dry goods and OTC medicines
Stacy
These are all great ideas. I am printing the list to add to my notes on preparedness. Thanks for the great post!
Ruth
The first thing that comes to mind is garden seeds 3-5 packages. Many on the packages have more seeds than you need for one season so if you go in with a friend or two and share seeds you can have a complete garden. If you buy heirloom seeds you can save some seeds from this years crop for next year.
Barbara
Join, or go with a member friend, to a "Big box store" like Costco or Sam's Club. Many things are packaged big, but that makes the price per pound low. (Sometimes the packaging costs more than the product in it.) I buy four pound boxes of Morton's iodized salt for eighty nine cents, and twenty three ounce jars of taco seasoning for about two dollars. Mind, not everything is cheaper. Many things are the same price you'd pay at the grocery. Almost everything is either in a bigger package, or a multi pack. You have to research, and keep track to know your deals.
Two or more friends or family members can join together to buy one membership. One person gets the member card, and takes another as a guest. (The card holder must actually make the purchase.) (*hanging head in shame* I know, this is a mild cheating, but this is survival here. When you become richer, you can make up for it by buying a membership for a less fortunate person.)
LizLong
Actually, while I'm sure they would like to get each individual to join themselves, I recently saw a magazine article with "etiquette questions" that brought up exactly this. They went to an exec at Costco or one of those stores. They said that they're happy to have members bring in guests. The more the merrier, more or less. So no worries about your mild cheating as far as the Big Box stores are concerned.
rightwingmom
Again, watch those drug store sales!
I've found:
Ajax and Comet cleansers 3 /$1
Latex gloves (50 ct.) 3 / $10
School supplies: pencil packs, erasers, markers, paper, etc. are usually .5 – .10 cents w/ the start of school sales.
inaminute
Don't forget Dollar Tree, if there's one in your area. That's where I get aspirin, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial cream, hydrocordisone cream, bandaids, gauze–all kinds of medical stuff. Also small jars of Prego, which are perfect for a family of 2. Just walk the aisles!
Mary
Dollar Tree is great for prepping on a budget. I've bought lots of first aid items, bandages, anti-biotic and anti-itch creams, etc there. I've also bought rope and safety goggles and gardening gloves. I even found some large brim straw hats for working outside. Here in the south where I live the sun is very strong for long hours each day.
BabyPrepper
I started my food storage this weekend. There are just too many signs pointing to bad things coming. I don't want to be thought of as a "nut"….love the word prepper! I am a single mom and live in a small town in south central u.s. If anything ever happens, I realize I am completely dependent on everyday luxuries (running water, electricity, etc….). Thank you SOOOOOO much for providing all this valuable information.
TheSurvivalMom
You're very welcome! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you become a regular visitor.
Barbara
This weekend my turn out to be the most important weekend of your life. Congratulations on joining the sisterhood!!
Summer
Don't forget the TP!
Liz Long
And don't forget to hit post-holiday sales with an open mind. I just bought muffin / cupcake liners for $.50 per package instead of $2 (faster easier cleanup with less need for soap and water) and I could've picked up a throw blanket for $2.50. I bought a bunch of warm-looking tights for $1.25 instead of $5, and they had them for little girls too. Paper goods included napkins, plates, and straws. Of course, there were little items like bubbles and pencils that you can add to barter or gift supplies. (I'm holding them for next year's trick or treaters so I don't have to buy as much candy then.) And a TON of cake mix and frosting for 75% off. They're all Halloween themed, but I don't care! And my kids are happy to eat the Oreos with orange frosting since they rarely get them, which lets me skip buying some higher-priced treats on the next grocery trip.
jan
Bungee cords are less then $5. Those come in handy ALOT.
diane
diane:
I know it may sound expensive but really shop around and look for great deals, garage sales, clearance items such
as sleeping bags, air mattresses and tools (not mechanic per-se) such as bow saws, gas cans, and the like at
big box stores, also.
Also don't forget your pets.
Earl
Don't forget to check out Family Dollar, Dollar General and Harbor Freight…
Tim
The Big Lots stores around here keep getting the shelves stripped before I get to them, but they’re usually good for candles in quantity for minimal outlay. Also, a few years ago, I was snagging 10-packs of sterile 4×4 and 3×3 gauze, as well as 20 packs of the 2×2 size for $1 each at a few of their stores. I am still using those.
Donny
I see that my work has made it’s way through a number of websites and it makes me smile knowing that I have helped so many people find a starting point to begin prepping. However, it would be nice if folks would give credit to the proper author.
The original work can be found here: http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=36711
thesurvivalmom
Sorry to burst your bubble but lists of $5 preps can be found all over the internet by various authors on various dates over the past few years. This particular one was submitted by the founder of Survival Cache, and I have no reason to believe it was copied directly from your list.
Donny
With all do respect, please go and read the link I provided you and notice the date. Additionally, please notice the exact language that was clearly plagiarized from the original work.
Alexis
Thank you for this excellent advice and the supplies list for 5.00. Its a economical way to see that we can prepare within our budgets. I am moving to a small town in the west where everyone has over 2 years worth of supplies and the town is teaching preparing methods. I believe the signs are in place for a complete collopse of the economy after Nobama’s reelection and we must be ready. Don’t forget to stock up on guns and ammo. I use Dollar Tree and watch bulk items sales to stock up. Also drugstores have great sales once a week and cupons so many items can be bought there for storage.